Nurses could strike at Pocono Medical Center

Nurses at Pocono Medical Center are poised to strike Feb. 1 after their union said talks failed to address what it calls "dangerous staffing levels and critical patient safety concerns."

Mona Hartle, president of JNESO District Council 1, said hospital management has refused for months to respond to what she called a "chronic understaffing" of nurses at Monroe County's lone hospital.

"Our members have documented more than 500 instances in the last two years during which they did not have the staff or resources necessary to adequately care for their patients," Hartle said in a news release. "We cannot in good conscience accept working conditions that will put our patients' lives at risk."

JNESO represents about 500 nurses at Pocono Medical Center.

Hospital spokesman Geoffrey Roche said Pocono Medical officials are confident that staffing levels are appropriate "and we monitor them consistently. "We can ensure our patients and the community that we will be fully prepared should the nurses strike on Feb. 1."

The union, which said it served management on Tuesday with a 10-day strike notice, said another round of negotiations has been scheduled Thursday.